The Future of Boxing? A look at Teofimo Lopez

By Harry Hogg: An arrogant swagger, an embarrassment of talent and a relentless hunger to be the best. Lightweight prospect Teofimo Lopez has it all. The brash and undoubtedly gifted 20-year-old has the boxing world at his feet. Widely recognized as arguably the sports brightest young talent. Lopez (8-0, 6 KOs) has everything required to be boxing’s next pound of pound star.

Last Saturday night in Texas on the Ramirez Ahmed undercard. The young lightweight produced his best performance yet, a dominant display over journeyman Juan Pablo Sanchez (30-15, 14 KOs) to claim a wide unanimous points decision.

Lopez toyed with the Mexican, luring him into range with excellent faints before landing with some crisp combinations. A razor sharp jab along with a punishing right hand caused the veteran Sanchez problems all evening and he did well to survive to the final bell.

For Lopez, he passed the biggest test of his career so far with flying colors. A cut sustained from a clash of heads in the second round was the only blotch on what was yet another impressive display from the ‘Yahoo! Sports’ 2017 prospect of the year.

Born in Brooklyn, New York. Lopez was introduced to the sport at the age of six by his father and now trainer Teofimo Lopez Sr.

He won gold at the 2015 National Golden Gloves Championships, He then went on to represent Honduras at the 2016 Summer Olympics games.

Lopez racked up a record of approximately 150-20 in the amateur ranks before turning pro in October 2016, signing with Bob Arums Top Rank Promotions.

Just a month later Lopez made his professional debut on the Pacquiao-Vargas undercard at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Since then the 20-year-old gone from strength to strength, producing six knockouts in his eight victories. With his extremely technical style, incredibly accurate jab and slick movement, Lopez has been likened to that of a young Floyd Mayweather.

In what promises to be a breakthrough year for Teofimo Lopez, the exuberant young lightweight looks set to take the division by storm and fulfill his potential as boxing’s next superstar.